Revolving stage



ATTO INVENTOR. BESSLE Y I i .1 i 7. T. m L n T Aug 18,1931. .c. E. PRESSLEY REVOLVING STAGE Filed Sept. 29, 1930 Patented Aug. 18; 1931 UNH'ED STATES release PA'EENT GFFECE.

CHARLES E. PRESSLEYpOF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORIIIA REVOLVING STAGE L of scenes depicting old Spanish days so popular in California and especially in the regions where the old missions were founded and the early history of California was laid.

The primary object of the invention is to r provide a revolving stage of the above character which may be converted into segmental stages wherein stage sets for a series of episodes can be erected when ready to start the performance and dismantled in sequence and other scenes made to take their place so that as a pageant or romantic play is being given the audience will be devoid of intermission and waits,thus reducing the time of the presentation and holding the interest of the audience all the while, together with a. reduction of cost and stage personnel.

Another object of the. invention is to provide for a revolving stage whichjis easily dismantled and erected andin which onlya portion need be erected if the area to be devoted to the episode he small also as the final or fiesta scene is taking place, fractional dismantling of the stage can take place.

Another object of the invention is in the novelty of the different parts entering into the detachability of the set-ups, their features contributing to make possible a quick assembly and disassembly, its simplicity of construction and the worth while effect to which it may be placed in the rendition and revival of the old Spanish customs of which the inhabitants are proud.

Further objects. will appear as the disclos- .ure is.unfolded and especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: i

1 is a perspective view of the stage, a number of segments of which may be considered devoted to an episode are shown in juxtaposition with a master stage, some por tions of individual'segments being shownwith the flooring removed to disclose sub-sill and framing construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating. the novel pivot construction of from one place to another.

Application filed September 2}), 193.0, seriaino. eeaorel the rotating members connected to the pivot or king pin. r

v Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the novel means in whichvthe stage is supported and bolted together and means whereby the stage may be revolved and the track upon which the stage rests and revolves.

In presenting an open air performance I consisting of a number of episodes as hereinbefore referred to, let it be presupposed the presentation of the pageant will require astage of unusual proportions and. the material used in the scenes is large and bulky and requires considerable time in its setting and arranging.

In the present instance I provide a revolving stage consisting of sixteen segmental seephotographic work. My construction ,usually provides for a fifty foot stage opening which is to be taken in conjunction with a sixty foot master stage front carrled off usually about twenty feet on each side.

Each section comprising the four llldlVlClH- al sections are removable for traps and are suspended on. wood runnersf I'ernploy wood runners although steel runners maybe supplied if the character of the presentation requires the use of heavier material[ For all practical purposes, wood girders have been found amply strong and are cheaper to manufacture and easier and cheaper to transport Each stringer if provided with two five inch casters each of the ball bearing type which adequately assumes the weight and makes the stage easy to revolve.

Inside andout-side castor carclesare run on a twin plate with thecastors on the lower "plate and every piece of material is bolted in place.

Four complete episodes can be completedto start with and additional episodes can follow in sequence-as one episode isfinished making way for an additional set up.

'tions of which four sections are allotted to each episode. To the right and left where At the completion of the performance the entire stage could be dismantled with the exception of the setting for the finale.

Thus it may be seen how a pageant production attempting using eight sets, a personnel of sixteen men to make changes and four hours time to put on the show can be reduced with my revolving stage to four men and only requiring half the time for presentation.

Speaking generally, this stage construction comprises a master stage section 4, a central anchor member 5, a set of radial stringers 6 arranged in a circular formation,a circular track portion 7, and-a set of platform members 8 which are mountable upon said stringers to form, when completely assembled, a large annular platform.

The anchor member 5 comprises a base block 10, socketed pedestal 11, the .base 12a of which is secured to said block 10, and a king pin or pivot 12 supported in the socket of said pedestal 11. V

In the illustrated embodiment of .the invention sixteen stringers 6 are shown. In order conveniently to anchor the inner ends ,of all these stringers to the king pin 12, anchor strips are provided, four of these, designated 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d being shown in ,de tail in Fig. 2. The anchor plate 6a is attached to the upper surface of the stringer to which it is secured, the anchor plate 6?) is slightly countersunk, the anchor plate 60 could be, more deeply countersunk, but is shown inserted within a slot provided there for near the upper side .of the stringer to which it is attached, while the anchor plate 6d is fitted within a slot located sti ll farther from the upper side of the stringer therefor. The sixteen stringers shown in Fig. 1 may all likewise be provided with anchor plates whereby they may all be secured to the common central king pin 12, and yet the inner ends of the timbers forming said stringers be maintained at substantially the same level.

The boards which form each of the flooring sections 8 have their end portions adapted to rest on the main oists 20, which are of greater length than the radial dimension of said flooring sections 8. Therefore the inner .end portions ofsaidjoists project within said flooring sections and can conveniently be bolted to the stringers 6 with which they are constructed and arranged to be brought into register, securing bolts 21 being shown.

Each flooring section 8 is nailed to a series of removable floor oists 2 5, one set of which is shown exposed in the left hand portion of Fig. 1. These joists 25 are removably seated upon the cross joists 26, 27 and 28, which are secured to the main oists 20in order to complete the floor-supporting structure.

An annular track is provided upon which the floor-supporting structure is rotatable. Said track comprises an outer rail 30 and an inner rail31, these rails being respectively that particular play is removed and .the stage supported by the stringers 32 and 33. Each main joist 20 carries two wheels 35 whereby it is supported upon said rails.

Referring to certain details of construction, the wheels 35 are shown attached by means of hangers 36a.

The master stage section at has a segmental edge portion 42 which extends in slightly spaced relation to the rotatable portion of the apparatus.

Corner brackets may be bolted into corner portions of the framework wherever desired in order to brace the structure sufficiently, as well as to secure its parts together. vv i-thin the annular platform there is room for dressing rooms (not shown) if desired.

In the use of the apparatus, two men can apply sufiicient force theretoto rotate it from one episodal section to another. Four of the flooring sections 8 will ordinarily makeup a single episode. Three will suffice if it is a small episode. The sixteen flooring sections will therefore suffice to set up four different episodes in readinessto be successively staged.

As soon as the first play has been staged 0 is set for the fifth episode which is substitnted for the one that has just been staged.

The entire rotary .portion of the apparatus may be readily taken down, packed and shipped to another exhibit point. The dis inantling can be started when the third from last episode begins to be staged. A much smaller personnel is therefore required .to expeditiously assemble-and disassemble the apparatus, than would otherwise be necessary.

Claims:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a king pin, asupport therefor, a set of radially arranged stringers each 1 5 having a hanger plate secured to its inner end and in pivotal relation to said king pin, said plates being associated with said stringers in such a manner that the inner end portions of all of said stringers are maintained in substantially the same plane, and flooring sections mounted on the outer portions of said stringers to rotate therewith.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a king pin, a set of stringers 15 in pivotal relation to said king pin and extending radially therefrom, each of said stringers being composed of two sections which overlap each other in an endwise manier, means to detachably secure together said 120 stringers where they overlap, and flooring sections supported upon the outer sections of said stringers.

V 3. In a device of the character described, a rotary stage-carrying structure comprising-125 an annular fioor, a series of radial stringers having outer sections which support said floor and overlapping inner sections detachably secured to them, a central anchor pivot to which the inner ends of said inner sections 130 are all pivotally related, cross joists detachably secured to said outer stringer sections to support said floor, a two-rail track under lying said flooring, and casters carried by said outer stringer sections and adapted to travel on the rails of said track.

4. In a device of the character described, a rotary stage-carrying structure comprising an annular floor, a series of radial stringers having outer sections which support said floor and overlapping inner sections detachably secured to them, a central anchor pivot, a series of hanger plates secured to the inner ends of said inner stringer sections and pivotally mounted on said anchor pivot, cross joists detachably secured to said outer stringer sections to support said floor, a tworail track underlying said flooring, and casters carried by said outer stringer sections and adapted to travel on the rails of said track.

5. In a device of the character described, a rotary stage-carrying structure the outer portion of which is provided with an annular floor, said rotary structure having radially extending stringers to support said floor and which consist of overlapping inner and outer sections which are detachably secured together where they overlap, and a pivot member with which the inner ends of said inner sections are connectable, said outer stringer sections being of greater length than the radial extent of said annular floor.

CHARLES E. PRESSLEY. 

